Revolt has launched the RV 400 with a unique monthly payment plan that starts at Rs 3,499/month for three years. The top-spec RV 400, which gets more features costs Rs 3,999/month for three years. Interestingly, the company has also introduced a second model, the RV 300, at Rs 2,999/month for three years. Revolt say this is a “no rental, no lease plan that offers customers full ownership from Day 1 and requires no down payment”.

The only differentiating factor between the two RV 400 plans is that the more affordable (Rs 3,499/month) RV 400 model misses out on the artificial exhaust sound feature and start-stop function via the app. The top-spec model is the one they’ve showcased in the past.

The entry-level RV 300 is a smaller model – the wheelbase is 30mm shorter at 1,350mm, the rear tyre is narrower and the rear disc brake is also smaller. However, the biggest difference is the smaller 1.5kW hub-mounted motor. The claimed kerb weight is down 7kg when compared to the RV 400 at 101kg. The RV 300 has a slightly higher range when compared to the RV 400s. In Eco mode, the bike is capable of a claimed 180km on a single charge, whereas in Normal and Sport mode, it manages a claimed 110km and 80km, respectively. However, the RV 300 has a slightly lower top speed of 65kph. Moreover, the RV 300 also misses out on the adjustable foot pegs and plastic surrounds around the headlight that the RV 400 gets.

All the RV models will also come with ‘introductory benefits’ such as a battery warranty of up to eight years or 1.5 lakh km, free maintenance benefits up to three years or 30,000km, a product warranty (five years or 75,000 km) and free insurance. If the owner has skipped on a payment, the company says that it will send two to three reminders before deactivating the bike. In case the owner makes a payment, the bike will be reactivated instantly - similar to renewing your set top box subscription.

The RV 400 features a compact design, but not as compact as the smaller RV 300. Powering it is a 3kW frame-mounted motor that makes a claimed 50Nm. The electric bike also has a bolt-on subframe, a USD fork, a monoshock and disc brakes.

Revolt’s RV 400 comes with a 3.24kW lithium-ion battery that gives the bike an ARAI-certified range of 156km. The larger RV 400 gets a charging cable with a regular 15A plug, which can be connected directly to the motorcycle, or to the removable battery. This means you can charge it at home. The battery is a bit bulky, weighing in at 19kg – the bike itself has a kerb weight of approximately 108kg. The Revolt RV 400 shares its platform with the Chinese Super Soco TC Max. The RV 300, on the other hand, is closer to the Super Soco TS1200R with its hub drive motor.

The Revolt mobile app, which comes standard on both bikes, also enables the owner to track the bikes, check trip history and even start up the motor. As for the ‘artificial intelligence’ function, Revolt claims it tracks your riding pattern and shows the user real-time range, optimum riding style and even upcoming problems with the motorcycle. Moreover, a geofencing feature enables the Revolt to function only within a preset perimeter on the map. This can be enabled by the app and could be useful for parental control or when lending the bike.

As part of the accessories package, Revolt will offer a connected helmet that is said to be made in partnership with Google, which allows the owner to start the bike using the voice command, “Revolt Start.”

Deliveries of the RV 400 will commence in September 2019 for the first batch in Delhi, bookings for which began on June 25, 2019. The company has confirmed that the RV 400 will be launched in Pune next month, followed by launches in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Chennai in the next four months.

A couple of weeks ago, Yamaha announced that the shift to BS6 will increase prices by 10-15 percent on average, depending on the product. The company also said that the transition will begin in November 2019 for its motorcycles and January 2020 for the company’s scooters.

While the company hasn’t said anything about the changes its two-wheelers will receive to become BS6-compliant, we can expect them to use fuel-injection instead of a carburettor as the fueling method. Along with fuel-injection, the bikes are also expected to get revised exhaust systems.

Yamaha has also said that it will offset the increase in cost by offering features like a ‘side stand switch’. This feature prevents the engine from starting up until the side stand is withdrawn completely.

]]>Firoze Irani Firoze Irani BS6 norms to hike Yamaha bike, scooter prices by 10-15 percent2461402461401Wed, 28 Aug 2019 08:00:00 +1000413924Firoze Irani Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Yamaha&#8217;s shift to BS6 will begin in November 2019 for motorcycles, and in January 2020 for its scooters.Yamaha&#8217;s shift to BS6 will begin in November 2019 for motorcycles, and in January 2020 for its scooters.Wed, 28 Aug 2019 08:00:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/bs6-norms-to-hike-yamaha-bike-scooter-prices-by-10-15-percent-413924#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Bikes+135cc-165cc+feed413924Review: 2018 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V long term review, final report

The RTR 160 4V passed through a lot of hands since it entered our long-term fleet in July 2018. In the 12 months we’ve spent with it, the 160 has been asked to do everything it was built to do; and maybe even a little more. It has gone on long highway stints, crawled for hours in city traffic and has even been ridden off-road. In the last couple of months though, I have been putting it through a little more than that, with the Apache slogan being a good hint of what it is.

The 160cc motor is delightfully quick and free to rev, and it does so without getting hot.

‘Racing DNA unleashed’. Before you assume I’ve been racing on the streets, being a menace to society, let me tell you that it’s not the case. I have, however, been racing at TVS’ Young Media Racer Programme on their race-spec RTR 200s. Now, what has that got to do with our long-term 160? Well, for starters, the bikes share a lot of similarities, in dimensions, hardware, ergonomics and character. This meant that I sort of had my race machine at home to get familiarised with, and so I did.

There is no speed breaker too high or pothole too deep with 180mm of ground clearance.

Every gear shift has been race-quick in the past two months, braking has been as aggressive as safely possible and unused roads around my locality all have tyre marks from practice race starts. However, that’s not all I have been doing with the 160, and the ease with which it transforms into a daily commuter is as effortless as Superman putting on his glasses and shirt to turn into Clark Kent.

Paper-thin seat cover results in even a small tear spreading over time.

I feel the 160 4V is as sporty as a commuter should get. If the ergonomics got any sportier, the seat firmer and the suspension more aggressive, the bike would cross that fine line. The motor also makes segment-leading figures that are more than enough in the city, but the fuel gauge does drop a little quicker than I would have liked, even when riding sedately.

Upward-swept exhaust’s ports have begun rusting due to water accumulation.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing with the 160 4V and it has visited the service centre twice in the past couple of months. The first time was when it refused to start and required a spark-plug replacement, and the second was when it began leaking oil from where the shifter linkage meets the gearbox casing. TVS told us that oil seal had moved out from its place and its fix was supposedly as simple as repositioning it. Aside from these two issues, the 160 4V has been niggle-free, but after a year, it leaves me craving for something a little more exciting.

Yamaha has revealed the XSR 155 in Thailand. This retro-looking bike is the third addition to the company’s XSR line-up, which consists of the XSR700 and XSR900 in international markets. The XSR 155 shares its underpinnings with the YZF-R15 V3.0 and MT-15, both of which are available in India, and this is what makes it really interesting.

The XSR 155 joins Yamaha’s Sport Heritage line-up globally as the most affordable model. Moreover, in Thailand, it has been priced lower, at 91,500 Thai baht (around Rs 2.12 lakh), than the R15 and MT-15, which retail for around 98,500 Thai baht (around Rs 2.29 lakh). Now, while these prices translate to a lot more than their Indian prices, the bikes we get here miss out on some premium components, like the USD fork.

In Thailand, the XSR features the USD fork, comprehensive swingarm and the VVA-equipped 155cc powerplant from the R15. This motor makes 19.3hp and 14.7Nm of torque, and comes paired to a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch, just like in the MT-15. However, what separates it from its siblings is its unique styling. It features an old-school-looking tank and flat seat with a ribbed pattern on it. Additionally, both the headlight and tail-light are round and draw inspiration from Yamaha’s motorcycles from the 70s and 80s.

Keeping with the retro theme is the circular instrumentation pod that is shaped like it belongs to that era, but features a fully-digital screen. It also features a different handlebar that is slightly more raised than the one on the MT-15. The Thai-spec model has a kerb weight of 134kg (1kg more than the Thai-spec MT-15).

While there is no official word from Yamaha about the XSR 155 making its way to India, we do not see a reason why the company wouldn’t bring it here. Going by the prices in Thailand, we can expect the India-spec XSR to be marginally cheaper or about the same as the R15 (Rs 1.41 lakh) and the MT-15 (Rs 1.36 lakh); that is if Yamaha lowers the equipment levels like they did for the R15 and MT-15 in India.

New spy shots have revealed that TVS has begun testing the updated RTR 160 4V. The motorcycle that has proven to be a popular model for the company can be seen equipped with a new LED headlight in the pictures. More importantly, the bike is also believed to be BS6 compliant.

The headlight, which will most certainly be an LED unit, looks a lot like the one on the TVS Draken X21 concept from Auto Expo 2014. It looks narrower than the current halogen bulb-powered unit, but has a protruding chin that’s similar to what we’ve seen on the current-gen 390 Duke. At present, the only TVS model on sale with an LED headlight is the Apache RR 310 with its bi-LED setup, and that has proved to be more than sufficient at lighting up the road.

As previously mentioned, this particular bike is also believed to be testing BS6 related changes. It is said to have changes to the internals of the engine and exhaust, in order to make it meet the stringent emission norms that are set to come into place from April 1, 2020. Like most manufacturers, TVS is probably going to have to hike the prices of its larger motorcycles quite significantly, as a switch to fuel injection seems unavoidable. TVS already sells an FI variant of the Apache RTR 160 4V; and at the moment, the price difference over the similarly specced carburettor version is Rs 6,000. That price gap may reduce with scale, but a big jump in price is to be expected. This is probably why TVS is looking at increasing the bike’s value with additional features.

Along with the LED headlight, we could also see TVS making additions to the instrument cluster. While it already displays more information than its direct rivals, we could see it get more features, including Bluetooth connectivity that’s similar to that found on the TVS Ntorq 125.

While the deadline for the emission norms is quite far away, the company could introduce the model much sooner, like other manufacturers plan to. This will smoothen out the process and avoid a messy situation like the one that occurred with the transition to BS4.

]]>Vishal Venugopal Vishal Venugopal 2019 Yamaha FZ-S V3.0 video review2461402461401Tue, 13 Aug 2019 16:50:00 +1000413688Vishal Venugopal Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Yamaha has updated the latest iteration of the FZ with fresh styling, an LED headlight and a single-channel ABS. We take a look at whether what&#8217;s on offer justifies the V3.0 suffix.Yamaha has updated the latest iteration of the FZ with fresh styling, an LED headlight and a single-channel ABS. We take a look at whether what&#8217;s on offer justifies the V3.0 suffix.Tue, 13 Aug 2019 16:50:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-reviews/2019-yamaha-fz-s-v30-video-review-413688#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Bikes+135cc-165cc+feed413688Hero starts offering home delivery of new two-wheelers

Hero MotoCorp has launched a new initiative where, at a cost of Rs 349, it offers customers the option to have their new two-wheelers delivered to their doorstep. Currently, the service is available in three cities – Mumbai, Bengaluru and Noida – with plans to expand to 25 more in the next few months. Customers can avail the delivery service through Hero’s e-commerce portal, www.HGPmart.com.

The website interface is similar to that of most e-commerce sites where you can select your product (in this case a motorcycle or a scooter) and its desired variant and colour. Users are then prompted to pick the state and city, and the dealership from where they would like the bike to be delivered. The website also gives you the option to pay an advance booking amount or the entire ex-showroom price of the two-wheeler. Hero has a tied up with a third-party service provider to collect all necessary documents from the customer’s address, after which, the vehicle is registered and delivered to them.

Commenting on the initiative, Sanjay Bhan, head of Sales, After sales and Parts Business, Hero MotoCorp, said, “We have been the first-mover in the e-commerce space and we are continuing this trend by commencing this new service. The motorcycle or scooter can be delivered at any address of your choice, not just at your home,” he added.

]]>Vishal Venugopal Vishal Venugopal Hero starts offering home delivery of new two-wheelers2461402461401Mon, 5 Aug 2019 18:38:00 +1000413726Vishal Venugopal Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Customers can book their vehicles online and have them delivered at home at a cost of Rs 349.Customers can book their vehicles online and have them delivered at home at a cost of Rs 349.Mon, 5 Aug 2019 18:38:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/hero-starts-offering-home-delivery-of-new-two-wheelers-413726#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Bikes+135cc-165cc+feed413726Choosing between a Yamaha MT-15 and a KTM Duke 125
Should I buy the Yamaha MT-15 or the KTM Duke 125?Kumaran Raje, Cuddalore

AAA We’ve only ridden the MT-15 on the track so far, but going solely by the spec sheet, the Yamaha looks like the better bike, considering the extra power. However, the MT-15 has been overpriced, so you need to question whether the unique style and R15 underpinnings are worth your money. If you can wait until we get the bike for a review on the street, we’ll be able to answer your question with certainty.

As part of its ‘Call of the Blue 2.0’ campaign, Yamaha has launched the Yamaha YZF R15 V3.0, FZ25 and Cygnus Ray in a limited-edition Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP colours. The two-wheelers with the special colour schemes cost a bit more than the standard shades. The R15 is priced at Rs 1,42,780, which is Rs 500 more than the Darknight scheme and Rs 2,500 more than the standard colours. The Monster Energy scheme costs Rs 2,500 more on the FZ-25 as well, at Rs 1,36,680. On the Ray ZR, the colour costs Rs 59,028, which is Rs 500 more than the Darknight scheme and Rs 1,500 more than the standard shades. The extra money will also get customers a complimentary Monster Energy-branded T-shirt.

This isn’t the first time the R15 V3.0 gets a MotoGP edition, as Yamaha launched one last August as well. However, this year’s model looks considerably different, considering that Monster Energy became the title sponsor for the Yamaha MotoGP team at the start of this season. The colour scheme features a black and blue base with Monster Energy branding graphics on the side panels and front fairing. Mechanically, all three vehicles remain identical to their respective standard variants. This also happens to be the first time a Yamaha scooter in India wears MotoGP-inspired race graphics.

Revolt Motor has decided to postpone the launch of its RV400 electric motorcycle, again. The company had initially decided to launch the all-electric bike on July 22, 2019 but the launch date was pushed to August 7 for unknown reason. Now, the launch is expected to take place by the end of August – the company says they’ll announce the new launch date on August 2, 2019.

Online bookings for the Revolt RV400 are still underway. Customers can book the electric motorcycle for Rs 1,000 on the Revolt Motors website and Amazon.

Revolt Motor is an independent, Indian start-up that had unveiled its first electric motorcycle, the RV400, on June 18, 2018. The RV400 has been developed over the course of two years and the company has listed Soco, a Chinese company, as one of their platform partners. It is India’s first AI-enabled, LTE-connected electric motorcycle that comes with a 4G SIM. It has an ARAI-certified range of 156km, while the top speed is limited to 85kph.

Unlike some of the electric two-wheelers that we’ve seen so far in India, the Revolt RV400 looks a lot like any 100-125cc, petrol-powered commuter. The design is compact, thanks to the clever positioning of the battery and motor in the area where you'd normally find an internal combustion engine. The motor and battery have been imported, while the ECU and Battery Management System (BMS) has been developed in-house.

One of the key features of the RV400 is its removable battery that can be charged using a cable and regular 15A plug that’s supplied with the motorcycle. Along with this, Revolt Motor will also have ‘Mobile Battery Swap Stations’ that can be located via the Revolt Mobile App. Besides this, the app also enables you to track the bike or start the motor. To know more about the app and the RV400’s customisable artificial exhaust sound, click here.